A Passion for Scrapbooking, Decorating and Shopping

Keurig Lovers Unite...

For nearly 6 months now, I have been bonding with my Keurig machine making coffee, tea, hot cocoa or just plain hot water instantaneously. 

I'm the only coffee drinker in our household so the machine is very fitting for me and my lifestyle.  Before I leave for work, I brew a cup to go.  At bedtime, brewing a cup of Sleepytime tea is quite soothing.  And during the cold winter months, my guy enjoys a cup of hot cocoa. 

If you are not familiar with the Keurig, you simply add water to the side container and pop in a k-cup of your favorite brew, tea or hot cocoa.

Select the size of brew you'd like (small, medium or large cup) and it starts pouring into your cup.

And once you become obsessed with this machine, you begin to collect a variety of k-cups.  And you can purchase a reusable coffee filter to use your own grounds.

I would have shared a photo of the boxes of k-cups that I've collected into one of our kitchen cabinets, but my Canon 20D decided to quit working in the midst of this photo shoot.  Gosh, I hope it's not serious. 

Anyway, if you are looking for a practical Mother's Day or Father's Day gift, may I recommend this machine to you.  And there are several types of machines to consider.

If you think this would be the ideal appliance for your kitchen, why not gift one to yourself. 

I raise my cup of Green Mountain's Limited Edition French Toast coffee (my favorite) in a toast to the Keurig and those who appreciate a good cup of Joe.

Wishy washy Wednesday...

What better title to describe my fickle demeanor.  Color commitment is obviously a battle for me and I believe the color for our bedroom walls that I mentioned recently will work.

My guy likes the contrast and so I compromised a bit.  We are going forward with Benjamin Moore's Pashmina (it's the color closest to the window). 

And with the wonderful feedback I received from my Facebook & Twitter friends, we will paint the ceilings in a white flat paint.  There's nothing more unattractive than roller marks which glossy paints have a tendency to leave if you do not paint fast enough before it dries.

I believe, according to my guy, we will paint the ceiling first.  Let me backtrack a bit, the first step is to repair nail pops and any drywall blemishes before we begin painting. 

Once we move onto the walls, I want to paint the wall behind our bed first to see how I like it before we proceed any further.  Then go from there.

We've got a plan.  Now it just needs to be implemented.

It seems that I'm always creating more work for my guy, particularly when I try to do things myself.  For example, I hung 3 pieces of art over our guest room's bed and the first thing he said was, it is crooked.

He will now go right behind me to balance the artwork properly.  I just get a little impatient but I'd rather try to get the wall art up now (before we paint) so I can get a sense of where to place it.  And this guest room is on our "to-do" list once we complete the master bedroom.  I'm not sure if my guy knows this, but if he reads it here, he now knows.  ;-)

We find ourselves in similar situations with home projects and finding the time to complete them.  Please know I share in your desires to get them accomplished.  As the The Pioneer Woman says, just keepin' it real.

Books to decorate with...

Do you enjoy browsing eBay for great finds?  I was never much of a collector (aside from my matchbook collection, which did not cost a cent, in my more youthful days) until I discovered Estee Lauder solid perfume compacts.

I've scaled back these days on my collection but I still check out eBay for all sorts of things, including home decor items.

One of my favorite eBay search words is "neoclassical" as that is the style of decor I admire tremendously.  And when I searched for items using that word, I came across an interesting book.  First, it has a pediment embossed on the cover.  Oh how I love pediments.  My initial reaction was to bid on it simply for that reason.  So I did.

Fortunately, I won the bid.  When I received the book, I discovered just how old the book really is.  Then it truly dawned on me the nature of the book:  Friendships.  Very appropriate in my world as friendships mean the world to me.  (Yes, I didn't focus on the name of the book as I did to the design of it...shame on me.)

Recently, I have discovered some new blogs (new to me, that is) related to interior design.  And when I discovered Paloma's beautiful blog where she featured some very nicely covered classic books, I was in awe. 

Truthfully, I am not a big novel reader but do read one on rare occasions.  Having discovered books with such ornate covers may change that! 

This is one way to literally decorate your life with books. 

We are almost there...

Months and months have been spent seeking wall color for our bedroom.  I've lived with various colors of paint on our walls for some time now, finally narrowing it down to one color - Benjamin Moore's Pashmina. 

There's a bit of green tinge to it and will offer a small contrast to the existing color in the room, particularly the headboard.

An example of how the wall color looks in a room can be found on the AtticMag blog.

I like how they've mixed gold & silver accents in this room. 

And the drapery panels I've selected are Ecru Velvet from Ballard Designs.

I'm very anxious to see how it comes together. 

The next task is to find drapery rods.  I'd love ones in gilded gold or silver like the ones offered on Restoration Hardware's website but the rods are no longer offered.  What a shame.

And so the project continues with a mission for drapery rods.  I'm just happy we've come this far and I have my guy's agreement on wall color.  Now that is a mission in itself.  He's not the type of guy to leave it to his wife to handle all the decorating tasks and definitely has an opinion.  There are times I wish he was not so concerned with the decor of our home but I'm glad he takes an interest in it.

Home Maintenance: The exterior...

Our first task in the new season is tending to our porch & wood trim on the front of our home.  Last Fall we discovered how the wood around the bottom of the pillars were beginning to rot before our very eyes.  Our home is only 4 years old but this was a wake-up call to us to get in the habit of waterproofing the wood trim in a timely manner.

Caulking is another best practice when it comes to waterproofing your exterior.  The wood trim has a tendency to separate from the windows and can expose your home to leakage issues. 

And it's just downright unattractive.

 

Wood trim was replaced.

And every nook & cranny is sealed and protected from the harsh weather elements.  Top it off with a couple of coats of paint, we're like new for now.

Please learn from our mistakes and be sure to weatherproof your exterior trim. 

Dazzling scrapbooking products...

I'm spending a little time tonight catching up on all things scrapbooking-related and see that the new VersaMark Dazzle Watermark Stamp Pads (in Frost and Champagne) and are now available at Scrapbook.com. 

I've seen ads in some of the craft magazines and am happy I can finally order them online.

There is an organizational sale going on at Two Peas in a Bucket.  The Unmounted Stamp Books by Cropper Hopper are my new favorite.  They remain nice and secure and are sealed so if any stamps come loose, they do not fall out of your binder.

The Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher is another new favorite of mine.  I'm having lots of fun with it in my layouts.

And ScrapbookPal.com has some new Cricut cartridges available for pre-order.  My favorites are the Bath Decor and European Decor. 

I've got a number of scrapbooking opportunities next month and do look forward to playing with some new toys. 

Angelo: Home Modern Classics...

I admire Angelo Surmelis' love of design.  His show on HGTV, Rate My Space, is one of my favorites and I enjoy reading his blog, Design Geek as well as following him on Twitter.

As a follower, I learned that he will be introducing a new line of furniture, Angelo:  Home Modern Classics, this summer.  It will be available at Overstock.com (one of my favorite online shopping resources) with various pieces available at other retailers, to be announced later. 

He included some of my favorite design elements, such as nailhead trim on this leather chair:

 

And the leg detail where he mixes traditional and modern designs:

You must check out Angelo's blog for more sneak peeks.

This talented man knows how to go forth & design well.

Ballard Designs...

My admiration for Ballard Designs catalog started in the early 1990's when I began receiving their catalog.  I used to save each and every issue with pages dog-eared of items to include on my wish list. 

Not only did I fantasize about including many of their decorative pieces in our home, I also thought how great it would be to consult with Helen Ballard Weeks in the decoration of our home.

The catalog was definitely a reflection of Ms. Weeks taste and I'd like think that what we've included in our home from that catalog carries on with what she would use in her own home.

Approximately 10 years ago, I purchased a pediment from Ballard Designs' Estate Sale which currently hangs in my craft room.  I was so excited to gain a piece that would bring a bit of architectural charm to our home.  I had to drag my guy all the way to the Federal Express distribution center to pick it up.  It was huge.

In Chris Madden's book, A Room of Her Own, she features Ms. Weeks private space filled with inspiration and potential designs to include in her catalog, including a lovely antique pediment shown below. 

 

Today, you can see how folks are inspired by the catalog and the way in which they incorporate their favorite pieces in their own homes here.

And if you are a member of Twitter, you can follow Ballard Designs in order to stay abreast of the latest & greatest from their catalog. 

If you are in the mood for some eye candy, curl-up with Ballard's latest catalog along with a cup of tea and enjoy the inspirational ride.

Office closet...

The reason I chose the room I utilize as my studio / craft room is because it has 2 closets.  Ideal for storage, particularly when it comes to craft supplies. 

I designated one closet as "Papier" for all things paper related, including my laptop and printer.  The other closet is "Embellissez-Moi" for Embellish Me that contains embellishments and craft supplies.  The photos of this space are a bit out-dated but you can get a sense of what I was trying to achieve with the closet space.  (Promise to update photos of the studio VERY soon.)

I have also viewed incredible use of closet space as a home office as well as craft space in Flickr, on Two Peas in a Bucket and various blogs including Crafty Storage.

In Lowe's September / October 2007 edition of Creative Ideas (I have saved just about every issue) they featured small space solutions, including a home office within a closet.

See the bulldog clips on the wall?  They are up there thanks to magnetic primer that was painted on the wall.  A very clever idea.

Using a curtain instead of a door has a very nice effect on the space.  I am contemplating doing the same as the doors have a tendency to get in the way.  My one and only reason for keeping them is that I have various types of storage on the insides of each door.  I haven't ruled it out though. 

The first time I laid eyes on a home office within a closet is in a magazine some-years-ago featuring Interior Designer Chris Madden's very own that included decorative mirrors and storage on the doors of the closet (my inspiration). 
A Room of Her Own

If there is a closet you wish to convert into a home office and/or craft area, be sure to check out Lowes Creative Ideas as well as other online resources such as The Container Store, Organize.com, Stacks and Stacks and Target, to name a few.

I like the idea of taking a space and creating an entirely different environment with it.  It brings a little of the unexpected to your home along with great efficiency. 

And there you have it....a closet of your own.

Beautiful Flooring...

A magazine dedicated to one topic:  flooring.  Beautiful Flooring that is. 

I could not pass it up at the newsstand.  A crucial element in our homes, flooring is the backbone to each and every room.

Select It, Install It, Maintain It, Styles that Endure & Best Choices for Your Home have captured my attention.  And I just had to see what this magazine had to offer in terms of inspiration.

Our lifestyles are part of the decision-making process in flooring selection.  In our previous home, we debated whether to replace the vinyl flooring in the kitchen with wood flooring.  We toyed with the idea of installing laminate wood flooring but since we do not have children nor any pets, we opted for old fashioned wood floors. 

That's not to say though that families with children and pets cannot have wood flooring.  We look at the pros and cons of wear & tear and how much use that particular space will get. 

Carpeting offers a variety of options to consider.  Besides color selection, there is the type of pile and durability to think about. 

In our current home, our entire upstairs is carpeted.  And if I could do it over again today, I would have wood flooring installed throughout the entire floor.  This would allow us the opportunity to personalize each room with rugs, another great flooring option.

And I would change the stair case runner on our stairs. 

I'd like to install a stair case runner with a pattern to gain some contrast and perk things up a bit.  Right now, you can see wear and tear beginning to take shape from the daily traffic this area receives.

AbbeyK from On Interior Design shared some great options for stair case runners recently.  And when I asked her about sisal as a stair case runner, she mentioned how slippery they can be.  It becomes a question of looks and being practical as well as safe.  I do not want to go sleigh riding down the stairs on my bum.

There are more choices to consider in flooring, like tile, stone, marble.  And new trends to read about such as bamboo flooring. 

Online resources are plentiful, such as iFloor, Rugs Express, CSN Rugs and Flor.

This magazine has generated a mind-full of ideas on flooring, so you can say that I was inspired and am eager to execute some new projects.

It's all about a chair...

It began when Barbara Barry introduced "Musical Chairs".  The silhouettes of chairs featured on bedding, wallpaper, tableware and fabric fed my hunger for great design.  And chairs really do that for me.

Since then, I have collected some prints of chairs that have captured my design lovin' soul by talented artist Kimberly Applegate.  Her originals are available on eBay.

Thanks to Kelly, my design sister, I discovered Annechovie and recently acquired a print that not only includes a lovely chair, but some awesome interior design books stacked on the seat of the chair itself.  It was a commission piece for Courtney Barnes of Style Court (a blog you should add to your Google Reader if you enjoy interior design).  I've actually discovered a number of things with Kelly's influence, including Mothball Charlie on Etsy.

So, after the holidays, I lurked online until I discovered a deal too good to pass up on a collection of "Musical Chairs" decorative plates by Wedgwood. 

And they are now hanging in the craft room where I like to surround myself with inspiration and pretty things. 

I may run out of wall space very soon in this room but I will never run out of inspiration, thanks to technology, magazines, books, artists and designers.  And it's one thing I can never get enough of. 

May inspiration make your world a happy and productive one.

Drapery panels & wall color...

For a very long time now I have wrestled with wall color for our master bedroom.  It is difficult for me to confidently make a decision as I am always second-guessing myself.  At the same time, I am also trying to select appropriate drapery panels for this room.

Would you like to join me in this on-going journey that has come in and out of my life for the last 2 years?  If so, please read on. 

In all the research I have done on this topic, I am leaning toward drapery panels that closely match the wall color. 

Like what you see in this living room:

 Architectural Digest

It shows a clean & crisp look to the room.  The drapery panels are a nice complement to the space but do not scream for attention.

The bedroom below is a great example of allowing the draperies to play second fiddle to the accessories and colors that accent the space.

House Beautiful

A tailored and less-fussy look is a prime example in the following photo.

 

I do like a monochromatic look.

 Traditional Home

I like how red accents pop in this environment.

 Traditional Home

Dark furniture set amongst a monochromatic palette as shown below, is a design style I like very much.

 Traditional Home

After all this research, I learned that it is best to purchase your draperies first before selecting wall color. 

I've had my eye on velvet drapery panels in order to achieve a serene and soft look to our room. 

 Pottery Barn

 Ballard Designs

 Restoration Hardware

I love velvet for it's softness that it provokes you to rub your hands over it again and again.  And it brings another layer of texture in the room amongst the fabrics on the bed, pillows and ottoman.

Once I make a selection, I will need to find a wall color that resembles the drapery panels in a monochromatic fashion. 

Or perhaps color-match it at the paint store.  We will see.

As I have searched for drapery panels to my liking, I kept in the back of my mind what Barbara Barry suggested in an article I read not so long ago.  And that is you do not want your drapery panels to look like a prom dress. 

Bottom line:  No prom dresses for this bedroom.  Just layers of textures in a monochromatic scheme.  And I hope to get there one day very soon. 

Sources of inspiration...

Discovering new sources of inspiration is exciting to me and it would be a shame to keep it to myself. 

One is Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper showcasing their inventory of furniture and home decor that makes me want to hop in my car and drive all the way to their Jacksonville, Florida shop to see it all in person. 

  PhoebeHoward.net

And What is Mrs. Howard?  I'm learning about Mrs. Howard by reading various blogs that admire her talent for interior design.  Things that Inspire recently featured Mr. & Mrs. Howard's pied-à-terre in Atlanta which is currently on the market.  I thoroughly enjoyed the "personal tour".

Willow Decor offers eye candy for one's designing soul. I love the architectural interests featured in it's recent posts.   

Cote de Texas tells the story behind many of the rooms featured by various interior designers.  It is quite intriguing and captures the true essence of interior design in a passionate way.

My Google Reader is loaded with inspiring blogs which makes me feel very fortunate and thankful for technology as it stands today. 

I hope you take delight in these sites and enjoy the inspiration as much as I do.

A switch...

When I discovered lamps for our bedroom, I had no idea it offered a switch on the cord in addition to the typical on/off knob at the base of the light bulb.  And every night, the switch is what I use to turn off the light before we go to sleep.

It's perfect for someone lazy like myself.  The convenience of not having to stretch upward to turn off the light near the top of the lamp is a lovely bonus in my book.  My head remains on the pillow as I click the switch.

There are ways to add a switch to your lamp cord, and if you feel confident to take a project like this on, I say more power to you. 

It is a worthwhile improvement to your lamps, especially if you are too tired to reach for the knob.

Lighting & Digital Timers...

A recent newsstand find is Better Homes & Gardens' Lighting magazine.  It showcases the latest in lighting and provides tips onn how to decorate with lighting.  And there is nothing better than a sexy lamp glowing as the sun goes down. 

Maximizing your lighting to it's fullest potential is what I strive for.  Placing dimmer switches in the dining room and in the master bath (lighting over the tub for a bit of mood lighting while soaking) is something we have done in our home. 

Adding digital timers to our curio cabinet (it's a nuisance to reach inside the cabinet to turn the light on) and various lamps throughout our home (foyer & hallway) to allow the lighting to turn on at dusk and turn off around bedtime. 

I do not like a dark home unless we're watching a movie.  My guy goes behind me and turns off the lights because I have this habit of leaving lights on in various rooms I am not using. 

We also utilize night lights in our bathrooms and hallways.  It helps not having to turn on lights to find your way to the bathroom or kitchen for a drink in the middle of the night.

There are also various types of light bulbs to consider and practical features to look for in lighting.  I'll share more on my favorites in the days ahead. 

And as Tim McGraw sings in his song I Like It I Love It, remember "Don't forget to turn out the lights!"

I should be singing this phrase to myself each evening.  ;=)

Grocery store finds...

As we nearly come to the end of the day on this 5th day of April, I am delighted by the sights of flowers blooming, the sounds of lawn mowers in the distance and the ability to wear flip-flops without freezing my toesies. 

And I get to enjoy a new page in my calendar. 

I was having so much fun today that I'm finding it hard to believe it is nearly bedtime already.  Part of the fun was shopping the office supply aisle at our local grocery store.  It happens to be the same aisle as the newsstand and the first place I visit as I enter the store. 

Call me pathetic but I love shopping that aisle.  If I find something I like and/or want, discover something new or fulfill a new organizational need in my life, I am quite happy.  And that is what sets the pace of my shopping expedition at the grocery store.  If I find nothing, well, I'm disappointed.  And it may cause me to make up for that empty feeling by purchasing and eating a half-gallon of chocolate chip ice cream. 

Luckily, I discovered a few items today that made me a happy girl.

When I set my sights on the Ticonderoga Noir solid black wood pencils I became quite giddy.

I love writing instruments, particularly ones that become a decor element in your home as well as being a useful item to have at your disposal.

They resemble a stainless steel look.  And this black urn has been begging for some stylish writing instruments for a while now.  Previously, it held black Ticonderoga pencils and offered no contrast.

And I love to use red-colored pencils to check-off my lists.  So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Ticonderoga Erasable Checking Pencils.  I'm in pencil heaven.

The Magic Rub Erasers (the best in my opinion) and staple remover (I prefer this style) are little goodies to add to the Making Memories carousel on my desk. 

As I eased my way down to the newsstand, I finally found a magazine I have been seeking for the last several weeks.

Western Interiors Magazine.  It's not always easy to find here in the Mid-Atlantic region but I know our local bookstores carry it from time-to-time.  So to actually find it at our local grocery store was a miracle.

My friend, Paula knew I would take interest in a post by Allison Tyler-Jones about her talented interior decorator sister's work being featured in the latest issue of Western Interiors (check out the powder room).  The photos Allison featured in her post are absolutely breath-taking.  I consumed every photo as it continually fed my design-obsessed soul. 

I wanted to see more of Ms. DeCesare's work and sought that issue.  I thought I hit the jackpot having discovered the magazine today, but it's the wrong issue.  That's OK, I will still take delight in all the design wonderment the magazine offers.  I haven't even removed the wrapper from the magazine as it will be my little treat at bedtime.

So instead of eating chocolate chip ice cream tonight, I will take joy in my great finds and sleep very soundly.

A sense of style...

I am enjoying the photos from the First Lady's visit to Europe where she is accompanying her husband.  And I applaud her fashion sense in mixing off-the-rack fashion with designer-ware. 

I've always enjoyed J.Crew but seeing how the First Lady is showcasing their wares has given me a renewed interest in this line.

Yes, the above outfit is all J.Crew and the First Lady looks fabulous in it.

When her official portrait was unveiled recently, I was wowed by how classy she carries herself in the photo as well as having arms any girl could envy. (I understand the dress is designed by Michael Kors.)

I recall when my sister was getting married several years ago that as her Matron of Honor, I suggested I should wear a dress with sleeves. 

My sister chose a sleeveless dress for me to wear.  And in southern climates, a shawl would cause a sweat attack. Since she was the Bride, I complied.

I tried to get in shape before the big day but doing arm-curls a week before the wedding is just not enough.

Right now I am choosing to focus on the positive and that is what a classically fashionable First Lady we have. 

Master Bath Ottoman...

My need to fill empty space is a trait I cannot shake.  Whether I'm scrapbooking & attempting to cover every inch of 12x12 cardstock or I'm filling our home with artwork, knick knacks and furniture to ensure there is no unclaimed space left to deal with. 

I'm trying to overcome this need and tell myself it is OK to have some white space.  I will never be a minimalist although there are times I'd like to venture down that path.

One example of filling empty space is our master bath.  We have ample floor space.  Rather than fill this floor space with just a rug, I decided an ottoman would complete the look.

My daily internet browsing found it's way to JCPenney's online outlet and a fabulous deal on a round ottoman designed by one of my favorite interior designers, Chris Madden.  It includes some of my favorite design features such as tufting, tassles and quilted fabric. 

The ottoman provides a place for us to rest our tuckus while getting dressed and slipping into our shoes.  I try very hard to keep it from becoming a resting place for clothing.  It certainly has been a welcome piece in this room for some time now. 

We can now shower, bathe, brush our teeth as well as rest in one of our most-used rooms.  

A pediment...

Over a year ago I reorganized my craft room, coming to terms with the fact that I would be unable to continue to hang the pediment that has hung in my craft room since Day 1. 

This pediment has been a part of our decor since our previous home.

So my craft room has lived without it until tonight when it occurred to me that the pediment would in fact fit above my bookcases.

I am feeling much better now that this piece is back on the walls of my little haven. 

What's missing now is a little flat screen TV so I can watch HGTV while hanging out in this room.  It's a low priority on the list of things we need to do to our home but I have certainly added it to my wish list.

And I am now enjoying the good karma that I'm feeling in my space at this very moment.